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“There’s five of us that have to be working together on every play to get something done,” Grove said. “If four guys are doing the right thing and one isn’t, it doesn’t work.”

Thomas is expected to be back for training camp. But he opened 2008 as a surprise rookie starter and suffered a season-ending injury in the first half of his first NFL game. Now, Thomas is out with a torn pectoral muscle.

The Dolphins have other options at guard, beginning with Andy Alleman, who started four games at left guard last season. But Alleman sat out last week with a back injury.

If Frye is the guy, Grove is OK with it despite his two-time teammate’s inexperience. Frye, a fifth-round pick in 2007 by the Texans, appeared in seven games last season for the Dolphins – the only action of his career.

“He hasn’t played much in the league,” Grove said. “But I think if he gets an opportunity I would feel confident with him in there beside me.”

Meanwhile, Grove, who came to Miami from Oakland, is ecstatic about the rest of his fellow O-line starters.

Grove loves Long’s humility, talent and work ethic: “There’s no telling how good he’s going to be. But if you just talked to the guy you wouldn’t know he went to the Pro Bowl last year, he doesn’t tell you about it. He goes out there and just does it every day, every play.”

Carey’s strength and steadiness impress Grove, who shares the same agent, Ben Dogra: “He’s really strong. He’s consistently been a very good player in this league the last five years. I’m excited to play with him.”

Smiley played in San Francisco when Grove was in Oakland. Grove calls him “one of the better guards in the NFL.”

“He’s going to surprise some people with how good he is. He moves well, very athletic, a really a strong guy.”

Grove, who came to Miami from Oakland during free agency, said the Dolphins’ focus on building the O-line sold him coming to South Florida.

The Dolphins have invested $68.5 million in guaranteed money in Long, Carey, Smiley and Grove, who signed a five-year $29 million deal, including $14.5 million guaranteed.

“That commitment they’ve made to the offensive line was very important to me,” Grove said.